Srinagar, Jan 5: As Chillai Kalan, the harshest leg of winter, moved into its third week, temperatures in Kashmir remained well below freezing, with Gulmarg logging a low of over minus 8 degrees Celsius on Monday.
The ski resort, which received fresh snowfall on Sunday afternoon, continued to draw snow enthusiasts as conditions improved for skiing.
A brief spell of light snowfall was also witnessed at Sonamarg at around 9 pm, but it didn’t accumulate. Temperatures across the region remained below freezing, highlighting the intensity of the ongoing cold spell.
While night temperatures tumbled to minus 8.8 degrees Celsius in Gulmarg, followed by Shopian at minus 5.6 degrees Celsius and Pahalgam at minus 4.8 degrees Celsius, Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.6 degrees Celsius.
Budgam dipped to minus 3.5 degrees Celsius and Awantipora to minus 3.2 degrees Celsius.
Pulwama recorded a minimum of minus 4.2 degrees Celsius, Anantnag minus 3.2 degrees Celsius, and Pampore minus 2.5 degrees Celsius, while north Kashmir areas Kupwara and Baramulla recorded minus 1.8 degrees Celsius and minus 0.7 degrees Celsius.
Stakeholders said snow-related activities in Gulmarg have resumed following recent snowfall.
Director of the Gulmarg Adventure Academy, Azhar Fayaz Lone, said snow biking, ATV rides and snow sledge rides had become functional after fresh snowfall in the resort.
“Basic ski and snowboard courses have also been launched,” he said.
Lone said that the Kangdoori area received about 1.5 feet of snow on Monday.
“The snowfall has led to a rise in tourist arrivals, with a steady rush of visitors since Christmas,” he said.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) officials, conditions on Tuesday are expected to remain mostly cloudy, with chances of light snow at isolated higher elevations in north and central Kashmir.
From January 7 to January 15, the weather is likely to be partly cloudy, with no major weather system forecast during the period, allowing tourist and outdoor activities to continue, the officials said.
The prolonged cold has pushed up demand for heating and electricity across the Valley, while officials said the sub-zero temperatures were also helping sustain snow cover at tourist destinations and higher reaches.
M M Parvaiz reports from Ramban
The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44) remained open for two-way traffic on Monday.
Traffic authorities said that, subject to fair weather and satisfactory road conditions, Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and heavy vehicles would continue to be allowed from both directions on Tuesday.
Officials said that LMVs and heavy vehicles were permitted to move throughout the day in both directions.
However, traffic movement remained slow at several locations due to single-lane stretches and vehicle breakdowns.
Traffic congestion was reported at Balinalla, Dewal, Nashri-Dalwas, and along the Marog-Kishtwari Pather stretch.
Engineers of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said that road repair and construction work is underway at several locations between Udhampur-Ramban and Ramban-Banihal sectors.
Authorities have advised travellers to check the latest traffic updates from Traffic Control Units (TCUs) at Srinagar, Ramban, and Jammu, and follow official advisories issued through the social media platforms of the J&K Traffic Police before commencing their journey.
Passengers were urged to prefer daytime travel and avoid night journeys, especially on vulnerable stretches of the highway.
Officials cautioned that the movement of heavy vehicles between the Nashri and Navyug tunnels during night hours could cause inconvenience and lead to further congestion.
Drivers were also advised to maintain lane discipline, as overtaking and wrong-lane driving could trigger traffic jams and pose serious safety risks.
Meanwhile, the Kishtwar-Sinthan Top-Anantnag National Highway remained closed due to the accumulation of snow along the route.
Authorities said that restoration work would begin once weather conditions improve in the area.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic), National Highway, Ramban, Raja Adil Hamid told Greater Kashmir that Dense Bitumen Macadam (DBM) work and traffic regulation were being carried out simultaneously at Digdool.
Sumit Bhargav reports from Rajouri
The Mughal Road was once again closed for traffic just a day after it was restored for the movement of vehicles.
Earlier, the road connecting Rajouri and Poonch districts of Pir Panjal region with Shopian district of Kashmir got closed for traffic on Thursday and was restored on Sunday morning, with authorities notifying a time slot of 4 hours for the movement of vehicles.
However, on Monday afternoon, the road again got closed.
SSP Traffic, Jammu Rural, Farooq Qaiser said that in view of fresh snowfall at Pir Ki Gali, all kinds of traffic on the Mughal Road are hereby stopped with immediate effect.
“The restriction will remain in force till further notice,” he said.